Car door



Feb. 4, 1930.

C. E. EKLIND ET AL CAR DOOR Filed Dec. 17, 1927 'fA/l/ENTOE5- 2 Sheets-Sheet l CQEL E fKL/ND Feb. 4, 1930. c. E. EKLIND I?! AL CAR DO'OR Filed Dec. 17, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 QTTYS Patented Feb. 4, 1930 ,1 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE carer. E. EKLIND A D KENNETH .1. 'ToBIN, OE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIeNoEs 'ro cAMEI. COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OE ILLINOIS can DOOR Application filed December 17, 1927. Serial No. 240,910.

This invention relates to a metal car door and concerns itself primarily with a structure having a rigid and durable panel and a rigid and strong frame which are combined to produce a strong, durable structure that will shed the weather and excludes the same from entering betweenthe frame and panel.

' In the past, metal car doors have not always been satisfactory, either the panel has been too weak, or else the frame surrounding the panel has-been, too weak, or the parts have not-been rigidly connected. fThis invention seeks to overcome such objections by combining a stiff panelof requisite strength and durability with a strong andrigid frame that will withstand the severe strains and usage that the-same must undergo and in whichthe frame is anchored. to the panel against bendingor distortion. 7 The invention comprises the novel struc 1 ture .andcombination of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out anddefined .in the appended claims.

[In the accompanying drawings which illus- 5 trate a preferred embodiment of this invention and in which similar reference numerals refer to; similar features in the different views-: :H

Eigure 1 is a side elevationalview of a metal door involving this invention and shownas applied-to the side of a house car.

,Figure 2.is annenlargedaand broken sectional viewof. the door taken in-a transvers vertical plane thru the door.

Figure 3, is an enlarged fragmentary'sec Ltionalfviewtaken ina horizontal plane thru the front partfiof' the door.

Figured is an enlarged fragmentary sectionalview taken in aho'rizontal plane thru the rear part o'f-the door. 1

" :A's' shown on thedrawings: The present embodiment of this invention is illustrated as consisting of a sheet metal door comprising name consisting of an upper 12 bar 1 which has one'flange 2 e x tending upwardly bcbinda depending flange 3"of 1the supporting track which acts. as a guide therefor. The other flange 4; of this 60 Z bar extends downwardly and forms a support to which the sheet metal panel 5 of the door may be attached.

The frontal member of the frame consists of a 2 bar 6 which has one flange 7 forwardly directed in a vertical plane and which is adapted for entering a vertical channel 8' formed by an angular weather. proofing front edge angle 9 which is attached to the front door post 20. The other flange 10 of this 2 bar is rearwardly directed and forms a support for the front edge of the sheet metal panel 5.

The bottom member of the-frame consists of a 2 bar 11 which-has one flange 12 directed upwardly to form a support to which 6 the lower margin of the panel 5 is attached. The other flange 13 of this Z bar is directed downwardly and extends behind suitable guide clips 14. The lower flange 13 may be provided with bulges or cam surfaces 14 that cooperate with the clips for forcing the door inwardly in its closed position.

The rear member of the frame consists of an angular member 15 having a flange 16 which is directed in a vertical plane to form a support to which the sheet metal panel is attached. This angular member has a flange 17 extending transversely Ofthe door. This flange 17 forms the rear edge of the door and the same is provided with a forwardly bent portion 18 at a point beyond the inner side of the door. This bent portion co-' operates with a curved flange 19 of a weather strip attached to the rear post of the door opening. In the present instance this rear post is shown in the form of a flange 20 on an angle member attached to the side of the ear.

These frame members are secured together by suitable angle clips 22 located at the corners, one flange of each angle clip being at tached to one member while the other flange is being attached to the adjacent member. The

l ends of the flange 12 of the lower Z bars are inwardly offset and respectively connected to the front Z bar 6 and the rear edge angle 15,

. as indicated respectively at 12 The sheet metal panel 5 preferably consists of a plurality of sections 5, 5 and 5 which are dish shaped; the dished portion of each tions have terminal flanges which-form attaching margins flush with the crests of the corrugations. This feature strengthens the panel and prevents bending at the frame members and reduces the total width of the car in passing thru narrow tunnels or the like.

The upper margin of the panel is inwardly offset as indicated at 21 (Figure 2). This inwardlly oflset portion is attached to the inner 'side of the depending flange 4 of the top frame member. This feature of construction prevents rain or snow from entering between the frame and panel. The lower margin of the panel is attached to the outer surface of the flange 12 of the lower Z bar and effectively sheds the weather as is obvious.

The lateral margins of the panel are attached respectively to the outer surface of the flange 10 of the front 2 bar and to the outer surface of the flange 16 ofthe rear edge angle of the door. It will be noted that the crests of the corrugations have attaching portions that are flush with the attaching portions of the valleys between the crests.

With reference to Figures 3 and 4 it willbe noted that the inner plane of the door panel is normally spaced outwardly from the edge of the floor, whereby it becomes possible to use full head rivets. Where the panel is not thus outwardly ofl'set, it is necessary to countersink the rivets upon'the inner side with the result that-they soon tear thru.

With reference to Figure 2 it will be observed that a plate 24 which extends throughout the length of the door, connects the panel with the flange 14 of the lower 2 bar. This plate strengthens the structure and excludes the weather.

It frequently happensthat great difiiculty is encountered in opening car doors. In such cases, a grab hook is usually applied to the frontal frame member and a pull is exerted which puts an undue strain upon the frame member. Further, when the door is closed and the rear edge angle on the door strikes the weather proofing flange'19, a severe strain is put upon the rear edge angle. It will be noted that the lateral frame members 6 and 15 are riveted to the panel at their outer flange, so that any strain as heretofore described will tend to produce aturning movement of the said lateral frame members with the result that parts are likely to become badly distorted and damaged. To overcome this, bracing i in the form of a right angle which is secured members 23 are attached at one end to the door panel. The other end of each member is to'the transverse portion of a lateral frame member. .Thus the members 23 at the'front edge of the door are attached to the .web of the Z bar as shown in Figure 3, while the rear members 23 are attached to the transverse flange 17 of the rear edge angle 15. Obviously these bracing members tie the lateral frame members to the door panel against turning movement or distortion and thus greatly reinforce the connections between the'panel and lateral frame members. I r

' From the foregoing it will be apparent that a very simple structure'has been provided which is rigid, strong and durable, and which will not weave or flex when handled or used. It will also be appreciated that the lateral frame members 6 and 15 are rigidly tied to the panel by the bracing members 23 against turning movement. In addition to these advantages, the panel 'is so connected to the upper and lower frame members so as toshed the rain and weather.

We are aware that many changes may be tions, and thecrests of the corrugations hav ing attaching margins flush with said offset margins and a lateral angular frame member having a flange attached to said attaching margins and a web spanning the space defined by the oflset margins.

2. In a metal car door, a panel havingclosely spaced corrugations, the valleys between the corrugations having outwardly ofl'set attaching margins flush with the crests of the corrugations, lateral frame members secured to said attaching margins'and crests, upper and lower frame members attached to the upperand lower margins of said panel, and angle clips securing said frame members together.

3. In a car door, apanel having longitudinally extending corrugations, the valleys be.- tween the corrugations having outwardly ofi'set attaching margins flush with the crests ,of' the corrugations, said panel having an 'upp'er inwardly offset margin, a Z-bar having 2. depending flange attached exteri'orly to said inwardly offset margin, a lower Z-bar having an upstanding flange secured to the inner side of said panel, lateral frame members secured to said outwardly ofi'set margins and to the crests of the corrugations, and means for connecting and bracing said frame members and Z-bars.

4. Inv a metal. car door,

a panel having longitudinal corrugations,

the valleys be- I v CARL E. EKLIND.

KENNETH J. TOBIN. 

